Diane Sawyer is full of Shit!
To think I once had respect for her! Never have I seen a more pathetic, shoddy piece of journalism than tonight's 20/20, which I forced myself to watch even though it was akin to sticking a hypodermic needle in my eye. And no, I am not a drug addict!
Why just today I was writing a piece for Sex-Kitten on how it was so important for us sex workers to create our own media and Sawyer's "expose" on prostitution in the US really proved it. Once again, the media's desire to focus only on drug-addicted, desperate sex workers proved how biased and just plain uninformed they are. Sawyer found every marginalized, down and out sex worker and got her to spill her sob story about how she'd been abused in the past and of course, had a drug problem to support. The only intelligent, proud sex worker speaks in secrecy and Sawyer announces "we have no way to corroborate her story." Sawyer said she doesn't believe the woman wasn't abused as a child or was "suffering inside." The woman stated she was not, but Sawyer was skeptical yet she had no problem believing all the drug addicts that she interviewed.
"Do they dream of a Hollywood ending...like Pretty Woman?"
Oh god, excuse me while I throw a brick through my television...
As exploited as these sex workers may feel, they've never been exploited more than how they were on 20/20 tonight. Some of these women interviewed with Sawyer over 2 years and have moved on with their lives, so I'm sure seeing their sob stories re-hashed on national television has done nothing positive for their situations. If anybody should be ashamed of herself after this shoddy miscarriage of journalism, it should be Diane. She doesn't realize that not everyone is a victim and that not everyone in the sex trade is being coerced against their will. It's too bad a respected journalist made a two hour special on one topic and didn't even do her homework.
But once again, this reinforces my belief that sex worker made media is one of the few ways to fight this. I've been working hard on the podcasts and videos I've made with my sisters in SWOP-Chicago and we now have our very own media website, RedLightDistrictChicago.com.
Our motto-"Sex Workers Making Media, so the Media Doesn't Make Us."
posted by Serpentlibertine @ 7:10 PM
4 Comments:
At March 22, 2008 7:29 AM ,
Greenwoman said...
Recently, I was taking note of a list that was going round of who exactly is a sex worker. I was curious, so I took note of that list. It included those who write erotica and publish publically. Well...I guess that makes me a sex worker...though I've not made any money from giving my body to anyone.
And I've got no problem with the idea personally...I just like to not go to jail...so I don't do it. *smiles*
Anyway, I felt really uncomfortable with that new piece also. It wasn't the least reflective of any of the writers I've been exposed to since beginning a sex blog. Not at all. In fact, I've met some of the smartest, happiest and most well adjusted people in my life since then...and they have or do take money for sex or for some other work in the sex industry.
I could only roll my eyes. That story was slanted off what it should have been. These are stories about drug addicts who keep their drug habit going by giving sex for money...
Those who give sex for money because its a life style choice and a career choice are mothers, home makers, business women (and men!) and they don't act all maladjusted for the most part. *rolls eyes*
At March 22, 2008 5:16 PM ,
Secondhand Rose said...
Libby, Gracie and wrote our own response; you should go and post a link to this post of yours -- if not comment. (I posted at my blog too, but SK has better traffic/readership.)
At March 23, 2008 7:04 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Shame there's no way to email you....get a hotmail account!
At March 23, 2008 10:40 AM ,
Serpentlibertine said...
Why would I get hotmail? I have gmail, but I am not going to give it out here. What do you want to email me? Tell me who you are first...
Post a Comment
<< Home